Freedom's Heart

Remake: Prologue

How did this happen?

Everything was going exactly as it had during the game. We were gathered in the grand hall of the Royal Magical Academy with the portraits of famous alumni staring down at us. I was just getting relaxed when something unexpected happened.

"Lady Angelina Lamonia, daughter of Duke Lamonia, please step forward,"

I instantly felt the warm and inviting atmosphere change as all eyes fell on me.

"Yes, sir,"

Despite my surprise, I managed to reply to the principal. What is happening? This didn't happen in the game. I was meant to go last and mock the heroine for being so weak as she took the test before me.

Glancing at the stage as I stood up I could tell it wasn't the principal who caused this change. He was an elderly man with pale, wrinkled skin and looking back at the women behind him. Sara. Sara Carlyle she was my rival in the guild. Judging by the look on her face, I'm sure she was the reason I was going first.

"Get up here, Dragon Slayer,"

Why did she have to bring that up?! I wanted to live a quiet life at the academy and stay out of the heroine's way. Now, even those who weren't interested in me before are staring. Even the... huh? Why was she the only one to look away when I caught them staring? I hope I am not giving off some villainess aura and triggering my death flag already...

"What are you waiting for?! We're waiting,"

"Yes,"

I have no idea how or why Sara became a teacher. She doesn't have the patience for it. She looks like she is ready to drag me to the stage. But I know I am wrong about her. She was my favourite teacher during the events of the game.

Stepping up onto the stage, I do my best to cover my biggest weakness. I hate being a noble and having to act like a proper noble. By now, I have lost track of how many times someone has yelled at me for my posture and speaking habits. I can feel my maid's eyes burning a hole in my from the back of the room, ready to report any mistake back to my parents. I'll just have to put on my best noble lady act.

"Lady Lamonia, please touch the crystal,"

The principal gestures to a large basketball-sized blue crystal ball on a small podium. It looks just like it did in the game. So I just touch it, right? That's how it happened in the game, but I don't see how just... oh, I really had to only touch it! I don't remember it glowing so brightly in the game, but it must be working.

"Lady Lamonia! Get away from the crystal!"

"Is something..."

I could only turn my head before the crystal exploded, filling the hall with screams and a cloud of thick black smoke. This... this didn't happen in the game... The crystal was meant to glow, but it never exploded. Did I do something wrong?

Finally, someone able to use wind magic clears the smoke, but things are far from normal. My fellow new students are still panicking while the teachers try to calm everyone down. Meanwhile, I could only pick the crystal shards out of my hand. It stings, but I can heal the wounds left behind nearly instantly, thanks to my magic.

Why did this happen? Did someone try to kill me? It wouldn't be the first time, but there was no guarantee that I would set off the crystal bomb. I doubt Sara would be in on the plot so maybe it was just an accident that the crystal exploded.

"Lady Lamonia... are you alright?"

"Yes, sir,"

"But your arm..."

My arm is covered in blood, and my dress is torn in places, but every injury has been healed already. Mother would kill me if she saw the state I was in. I doubt she would listen to me if I told her it wasn't my fault.

How can I get out of this mess? "I was gardening and accidentally got cut by a rose bush." No, that excuse won't work. Mother knows I have never attempted gardening before in my life. "I walked through a thorny bush and got scratched." She will believe that, but that won't get me out of trouble. Oh, what's the point. Mother probably knows everything that happened here, and I would believe you if you told me she was already on her way here to lecture me.

"Lady Lamonia, please go to the infirmary.... I'll have a teacher escort..."

"Relax, our little dragon slayer is already healed, see," Sara smirked, holding up my arm. "I think you should focus on calming down everyone else."

Looking around the room, I can see people ducked behind chairs while others look like they tried to run for the door, only to trip over each other. Several teachers are among them, but they have their hands full. I have a feeling I am going to be in trouble for this, aren't I?

At least a few people aren't panicking. My shame, fiance, Prince Marshall Malone, is busy comforting his real love, and my stepbrother Noah looks more worried about me than scared. The pervy elf, Zeno, is taking advantage of a pair of ladies clinging to him. Oh wait, the heroine is just staring at... no, she looked away again when our eyes met. I hope this doesn't mean I set off a doom flag.